Rogers BlackBerry Pearl 8220 Showing Up in Flyers - Likely Not Available Until October

Rogers is taking a slightly different approach on the advertising of the new BlackBerry Pearl 8220 flip phone (formerly referred to as the KickStart). The 8220 is not even available for sale yet, yet advertising for the new Pearl is already going out in Rogers mailers. I received a bunch of emails this weekend from CrackBerry readers who have come across the advertisment above. This particular snap was taken and sent in by Mark, who was surprised to see the flyer in his local newspaper. The image should be familiar - it's the same flyer we leaked back on August 28th that confirmed the 8220's $149.99/3yr term pricing.

Just because it's in a flyer doesn't mean the Pearl 8220 is available for purchase though. Indeed, calling up your local Rogers dealer right now to ask if they have any BlackBerry flip phones in stock will probably lead to confusion (trust me, I tried). Upon deferring to my Rogers peeps who are in the know, it seems the availability date on the 8220 is still a ways off... try October 4th.

This date jives pretty well with what I've been seeing on the OS side of the equation. I've been delaying my one month 8220 review (it'll be more like a 6.5 week review when it goes up this Tuesday) because every time I go to write it a newer version of 8220's operating system becomes available and I get distracted by it for a few days and then the same thing happens again and again. When I published Part I of the Hands-On BlackBerry KickStart Review the device was still referred to as a 9100 and was running OS4.6.0.59. I've now updated the OS several times, most recently this past week to version 4.6.0.141. I'm hearing the final OS build should be completed in the next few days (once approved you're looking at a couple weeks before it's loaded onto devices and ready for sale). With CTIA starting on Wednesday it would seem a good time/place for RIM to bring official word of the new flip phone (and maybe the Storm/Thunder and Javelin too while they're at it!!), but I wouldn't be shocked to see the official 8220 announcement delayed to the following week.

Now what I want to know.... who's DYING to go out and buy a new 8220?!

Rogers BlackBerry Pearl 8220 Showing Up in Flyers - Likely Not Available Until October

I guess it's possible we could see the 8220 hit T-Mobile before the time the Bold hits AT&T. Kinda sounds like the timing will be very close. Could be within a few days.

What definitely sounds delayed though is the 8210 - the flip phone with GPS. That's the one that AT&T should be getting (seawolf) and it sounds like that might be a bit delayed...I've heard even into Jan/09. Hopefully sooner, but I guess we'll see.

My BB I use for work already has all the goodies on it (email, internet, etc). For personal use, all I need is a phone made by a company known for their quality for calls, calendar, and text that I can stuff in my pocket. With this phone, I'm all set.

My BB I use for work already has all the goodies on it (email, internet, etc). For personal use, all I need is a phone made by a company known for their quality for calls, calendar, and text that I can stuff in my pocket. With this phone, I'm all set.

I just got the Curve a few weeks ago and I completely love it... As crazy as it sounds, I wanted a flip phone with QWERTY (and not that tiny Alias phone)... The Kickstart will be perfect for me... I think my Curve will definitely keep me tided over until the Kickstart comes to Verizon...

I totally am. I'm due for an upgrade, and I was thrilled to see this in the flyer today. I'm even willing to wait for October. I'm addicted to flips, and this is the nicest I've seen in a while. Hope it lives up to its name........

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